Newbie here, '68 Charger R/T

[factorybrook]

I've been lurking here for a while, keeping my eyes open for a '68 Charger like my Dad had. Found one locally the other day, owner says it's a '68 R/T Hemi 4 spd. He bought it in 1970 for $1000 and parked it in his garage in 1980 after some crumpled the rear quarter. He say only missing original exhaust manifold, replaced with headers in '72. We haven't talked $$, I'm going over this morning to check it out. What should I look for to make sure it's an original Hemi car? What should I look for on the fender tag? He's not advertising it, he found out from a mutual friend that I was looking for one...

Thanks in advance,
Drew

[Ghoste]

If it's a real Hemi car, for starters the vin should be "XS29J8xxxxxxx".  The S and the J are important as the S is indicating an RT and teh J is telling you Hemi.  On the fender tag, look on thebottom row.  The numbers will be grouped and the second group from the left should be 73.
There are more indicators to determine if its real but that is the beginning.

[factorybrook]

Thanks... Is there an online decoder for the fender tag? I plan on taking a digital photo of the tag (immediately after writing the check) to find out exactly what I have.

[Spike]

Welcome to the site, good luck on the Charger.
And for decoding check out http://www.mymopar.com/tools.htm

[Chad L. Magee]

Hemi cars have support pieces that were added underneath to strengthen the body as they took a beating from the engine (torque boxes for example).  Some other non-hemi cars ended up with the pieces added on, but that was typical of the later years (1970-71s).  If it is a real 1968 hemi Charger, you can check to see if it has been rebodied by looking underneath as very few people would switch numbers with another hemi car back in the day.  Granted, some people would fabricate the hemi strengthing pieces and make fake hemi car bodies (that started when they became valuable), but if the story about the car is true, the odds of this being a rebody is small.  Nice find if it is real........

[Ghoste]

If it has been parked that long, there is also a pretty good chance that the original suspension is still in place as well.  In the case of a Hemi car, this would mean bigger brakes and sway bar as well as the bigger leaf springs in the rear.

[hemi68charger]

Good luck on the visit.. There's plenty of people here to help you... I have one myself with the fender tag decoded.. Any help needed, just shoot...  Look for various body modifications like below...

1. Pinion snubber reenforcement.
2. Rear frame rail gusset
3. torque boxes

[Silver R/T]

if it's real hemi car make sure its got real thing a hemi engine lol You can't miss a hemi in there, has huge heads on top lol

[72chargerSE]

Thanks... Is there an online decoder for the fender tag? I plan on taking a digital photo of the tag (immediately after writing the check) to find out exactly what I have.

PLEASE, find out exactly what you have BEFORE writing the check, if it is a real HEMI car, the owner knows it

Or he was born yesterday!

Don't rush it, I'd hate to see you get burned

Mike

[Blakcharger440]

Hmmm...It may just be a 68 Charger RT 440 with the Hemi 4spd (18spline) box. 
Either way it still sounds like a great car! 

[bull]

Hmmm...It may just be a 68 Charger RT 440 with the Hemi 4spd (18spline) box. 
Either way it still sounds like a great car! 

That's what I was thinking. Maybe it's meant to be read as "Hemi 4speed" rather than '68 R/T Hemi."

[sean68charger]

it does sound to good to be true, but you never know!

[factorybrook]

 :-\Well, he postponed showing me the car yesterday because he has the stomach bug, but I'm stopping over there in the next hour or two to get the vin and photo of fender tag. He says it's a hemi engine, but I don't think he really knows cars. So, I'll check in with you guys later with specifics and perhaps a few photos. Thank you all the advice... Sometimes good advice and experience can be the best tools you have.

Drew

[Bandit72]

it could be one of them really rare 440 HEMI's too....be careful

[Brock Samson]

good luck with your hunt,.. alot of folks want those and can't no way afford em.. 

[factorybrook]

I took a quick look at it today... '68 R/T 440 4 spd... (XS29L8Bxxxxxx). 95k miles, engine never apart. Body is in decent shape, left rear quarter is banged up, very little rust. Body was burgundy (RR1) white interior. It's absolutely buried in a garage, probably take him a few days to get it out. I snapped a quick photo of the tag, didn't get to look under the hood. I have a photo of the car and one of the tag... Click the photo...



Drew

[Charger-Bodie]

sounds like a cool car too bad its being used as a bench ..... pick and file on one of those hoods for a while and you will understand why!!

[69charger2002]

grill looks nice. that's a start. 
ps brian send me some photos of the 68 when you get some free time i'd like to see the progress

[bull]

That would sure be a nice one to have. R/T 4-speed=very desirable. Any idea how much he wants?

[factorybrook]

He's looking for $6500... And I have no problem with that. I'd just like to see more than the nose and left door.

[Charger-Bodie]

if he wants 6500. for and and its half what you say it is you better quit telling people about it or it will be gone cause thats a good deal!!

[bull]

Yea, can you get the cash right away? I'd take the cash and a trailer the next time you go, remove all the junk and take it with you. If you did nothing but turn around and sell it I bet you could double your money.

[HeavyFuel]

Thanks... Is there an online decoder for the fender tag? I plan on taking a digital photo of the tag (immediately after writing the check) to find out exactly what I have.

PLEASE, find out exactly what you have BEFORE writing the check, if it is a real HEMI car, the owner knows it

Or he was born yesterday!

Don't rush it, I'd hate to see you get burned

Mike

$6500?

I think Mike hit it............he was born yesterday.

Better grab it before he wises up at triples the price.

[terrible one]

I agree with the rest of these guys. $6,500 for a 440 4 spd car that isn't really rotten is a steal!

[Silver R/T]

grab it or I will

[Bandit72]

grab it or I will

the all mighty Silver R/T has spoken 

[bull]

grab it or I will

Unless your mom says otherwise.

[tan top]

I agree with the rest of these guys. $6,500 for a 440 4 spd car that isn't really rotten is a steal!

     sounds like a real good deal , 

[factorybrook]

It's already a done deal, it's that he's old school, he does things on his schedule, and if you don't like it, take a hike... He said he'll call me this week and let me know when it's ready to come out. I'm anxious to see the back end of the beast... What you see in the photo is all that I could see. The passenger side is about 1.5" from the barn wall. He said there is alot of old Detroit muscle hidden in town, telling me of another '68 which he was sure was a hemi, rotting away in a friend's back yard. There used to be a very active drag strip that closed in the early 70's. I'll let you know when it bring it home.

Drew

[8WHEELER]

Yea, can you get the cash right away? I'd take the cash and a trailer the next time you go, remove all the junk and take it with you. If you did nothing but turn around and sell it I bet you could double your money.

   Yep, hook up a trailer and the next time you go over there have that and the cash. If its
a clear title, and you have the cash and the room, that is one hell of a good find and you will not
loose your money on it, good luck  

Well I had this all typed out before your last post, but my feeling is still the same.

Dan

[41husk]

If it is a real hemi car or even a clone with a hemi in it, I would make it a (Hime) car. Used to belong to him, now it belongs to me

[Charger_Fan]

grab it or I will

Unless your mom says otherwise.

[bull]

You might want to keep an eye on this one as a barometer: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-Charger-1968-DODGE-CHARGER-RT-4sp_W0QQitemZ270065880143QQihZ017QQcategoryZ6199QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[factorybrook]

I was watching that one... The one I'm picking up is in far better condition that that, although it lacks the a/c. The 440 runs nicely, not as much rust. I did find out that in the early 70's he traded his original white interior for a black one that a friend of his had in his '68. Go figure... I hope the build sheet is under the carpet, not under a white seat someplace. I should be bringing it home this weekend. 

[hemi68charger]

I was watching that one... The one I'm picking up is in far better condition that that, although it lacks the a/c. The 440 runs nicely, not as much rust. I did find out that in the early 70's he traded his original white interior for a black one that a friend of his had in his '68. Go figure... I hope the build sheet is under the carpet, not under a white seat someplace. I should be bringing it home this weekend. 

Your friend still have the white interior?  Doesn't hurt to ask....   

[41husk]

yep, infact I changed seats in my Challenger years ago sold the house I was living in and left a bunch of parts including those bucket seats.  I remembered about two years later when I needed a challenger fan shroud that I had left it with some other parts in the garage rafters.  I went to the front door explained to the owner, who said its probably still there he had never been up there.  Sure enough, got several of my ebody extras back.  Gave the guy $20 bucks to go out to dinner he diddn't even want to take that.  It never hurts to ask.

[19Charger68]

Really nice find!  Great Price!  I wouldn't hessitate one minute to grab that one!

[HeavyFuel]

You might want to keep an eye on this one as a barometer: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-Charger-1968-DODGE-CHARGER-RT-4sp_W0QQitemZ270065880143QQihZ017QQcategoryZ6199QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I slayes me when they say in the description, "Easy Resto".   Every single item on that car will have to be replaced or rebuilt.  Easy, my butt.

[Charger41971]

Nice score.    I recently spotted a '68 myself, in a garage with about 2" of dust and a bunch of boxes on it. Unfortunately I was in a customers car and couldn't stop. I've been by there 10 times and never anyone home.  But I won't give up- sooner or later someone has to be there. 

Tim